CLUMPING ALONG IN CRAMPONS

Carly Kubisch, Latin America Specialist, shares her impressions of Los Glaciares National Park...

Clumping along in crampons

After a hurried rush to get ready in the morning (oops, I had forgotten to set the alarm the night before...), and a quick cup of café con leche, we were all set to begin our trip to Perito Moreno Glacier. The visit is offered as a full day excursion from El Calafate - approximately 1 ½ hours drive each way - with the option to include some trekking on the glacier (there are limited spaces so it is recommended to pre-book).

On first view of the glacier, I was impressed – though not quite as much as I thought I would be. Later, from a much different angle, I realized that I had been looking at a small portion of the glacier, and when I was confronted with the front-on view (pictured) I was gob-smacked. I couldn’t believe the amount of ice – it seemed to go on forever. The photos I took that day could just not capture the sheer size, colours and detail.

The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of 365 glaciers in the Los Glaciares National Park, and is one of the few glaciers in the world that remains stable i.e. advancing and retreating at approximately the same rate. The face of the glacier is 5km wide and an average of 60 metres above the surface of the water. When pieces from the glacier face fall off – a process known as calving – they make a tremendous roar and splash.

To get to the section of ice where we would do our trekking, we took a boat across the lake, and then had a short walk along the banks to the starting point. Here we were divided into groups and fitted with crampons for an hours walk on the ice. Although some sections were a little strenuous – jumping small crevasses and walking up steep-ish slopes, it was not as difficult as I was expecting, and it was a lot of fun clumping along with the crampons.

Although Perito Moreno glacier is not the biggest glacier in the National Park, it is easily accessible and said to be the most beautiful. I urge you to visit Argentina to see this natural wonder, as well as the many, many other attractions the country has to offer.